Self-love can feel cringy, confusing, or completely out of reach after trauma. Maybe you've heard "you just need to love yourself" and felt your whole body tense up. In this episode, we explore why self-love feels so hard when you have a trauma history—and how to start making it feel safer and more possible.

We talk about how trauma implants deep negative beliefs, shatters self-trust, and fuels shame, guilt, and self-criticism that keep you stuck in survival mode. You'll learn how these patterns show up in your nervous system and relationships, and why "performative self-care" (bubble baths, face masks, and vibes) often isn't enough on its own.

We'll break down the difference between aesthetic self-care and true, embodied self-love—self-love as a felt sense of safety in your body. You'll also hear the brain science behind self-criticism and self-compassion, including how practices of kindness toward yourself can reduce threat responses and support regulation over time.

This episode includes practical, trauma-informed ways to begin practicing self-love when it doesn't come naturally, including:

• Allowing emotions without judgment

• Using self-compassion instead of self-attack

• Gently reshaping your self-talk

• Practicing real, nervous-system-friendly self-care

• Setting boundaries, creating joy, and celebrating small wins

If you've ever thought, "I hate the way self-love sounds, but I know I need it," this conversation is for you. Self-love isn't a reward you earn once you're healed—it's one of the pathways that helps you get there.